Henry St John of Tandragee
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Henry St John of Tandragee (July 1628 – 9 September 1679) was the owner of Tandragee Castle and manor of Ballymore. He was assassinated upon his estate of Drumlyn Hill, near Knockbridge, on the orders of local Rapparee leader Redmond O'Hanlon.[1][2]
Henry St John inherited the manor of Ballymore from his great-uncle, Sir Oliver St John and from his father Sir John St John.[3]
Assassination
On September 9, 1679, St. John was horse riding on his estate of Drumlyn Hill, near Knockbridge, accompanied by a manservant and Reverend Power, the Vicar of Tandragee. Suddenly, a group of followers of Redmond O'Hanlon, known as Tories, appeared and abducted him. Reverend Power was warned that Henry St. John would be killed if any rescue attempt was made. Shortly thereafter, a group of Protestant tenants from the St. John family arrived and opened fire on the abductors.[3] As a result, Henry St. John was struck in the forehead by a bullet. Reverend Power later stated that the lethal shot was fired at point-blank by the Tory who was leading away St. John's horse.[1]
Reports regarding St John's death were published in at least two London newspapers, namely the True Domestic Intelligence and the Domestic Intelligence.[2]
In response to the assassination of Henry St John, a proclamation was released by King Charles' Viceroy, the Duke of Ormond. He mandated that the actions of the Tories would be exacted upon the "wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of such of them as shall be out on their keeping, that is not amenable to law and committing them to close prison, until such outlaws shall be either killed or taken" Consequently, this wave of persecution led to a significant number of Catholic refugees seeking safety in County Donegal.[4]
